Can handling process



June 1963 L. E. RUSSELL. ETAL 3,09

CAN HANDLING PROCESS Filed March 29. 1957 6 .Sheets-Sheet 1 w E: r m N d7a m N am m vlll QHNIJ E 9 Rm C H M 5 M m m NN! m M June 25, 1963 .L. E.RUSSELL ETAL CAN HANDLING PROCESS 6 Sheets$heet 2 Filed March 29, 1957W2z/ Izz011s", L55 5'. RUSSFLL, FRANKLIN I? ROBINSON June 1963 L. E.RUSSELL ETAL 3,095,100

CAN HANDLING PROCESS 6 Sheets-Shea Filed March 29, 1957 6 NW 5 w m ifJune 25, 1963 RussELL ETAL 3,095,100

CAN HANDLING PROCESS v 6 Sheets$heet 4 Filed March 29, 1957 a J W W n m& ,m LB I @Nbw ham 3 v \M W M M.||r|;l|- EM, M LF W? n 1963 L. E.RUSSVELL ETAL 3,095,100

CAN HANDLING PROCESS 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 29, 1957 17211:? LEE5. RUSSELL,

FRANKLIN f, ROBINSON June 25, 1963 RUSSELL ETAL CAN HANDLING PRQCESS 6Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed March 29, 1957 mu m 65 U WP M an U N mm W H- IQNUnited States Patent 3,695,109 CAN HANDLING PRQCESS Lee E. Russell,Plant City, and Franklin P. Robinson, Lakeland, Fla, assignors ofone-third to Ira B. Russell, Plant City, Fla.

Filed Mar. 29, 1957, tier. No. 649,501 8 Claims. ((31. 214-152) Thepresent invention pertains to a process and means for handling largenumbers of cans or similar articles in a rapid and facile manner, andmore particularly relates to a novel bulk can carrier employed in suchprocesses.

Present-day can-forming apparatus has attained such efficiency that therate of can production is so high as to create a handling problem. Theextremely fast rate of can production made possible by modern machinerymilitates against the efiicient and economical manual packing of emptycans in transporting cartons in accordance with the practice heretoforecommonly employed. In addition, the space required in the factory areafor storing the empty cans prior to shipment to the place of utilizationis of necessity quite large and obviously imposes an additional expenseon the can manufacturer.

An even more serious problem confronting the canning industry, however,comprises the difficulty experienced in manually feeding the cans at thespeed required to keep pace with the latest can-filling and closingmachines. Present-day canning lines utilize apparatus which fill andclose up to 1,000 cans per minute. This latter speed, however, cannot beused efficiently if suflicient personnel are not present to manuallyfeed the cans fast enough to keep these high-speed machines running attheir rated efiiciency. This needed added labor offsets the greater partof the reduction in cost resulting from the high filling speeds.

A canner is usually located so as to be substantially in the center of aplurality of outlying satellite can suppliers. The distance obviouslyshould not be too great for reasons of transportation economy, plusother reasons such as desired ready accessibility of cans to meetunexpected demand such as may occur to a canner of beverages during anextremely hot spell.

It is to the can manufacturers advantage, therefore, to manufacturelarge numbers of cans so as to most efficiently use his can-formingapparatus and readily remove the same from the can-making plant to theplace of usage. The means most commonly used in transporting the canscomprises trailer trucks because of the short distances generallyinvolved plus their ability to move the entire distance between the canmanufacturer and canner. Once the cans arrive at the canner, they mustbe rapidly fed into the filling and closing apparatus if advantagesresulting from the apparatus speed are to be obtained.

The problems confronting the canning industry are thus apparent. The canmanufacturer must manufacture cans at the rated speed of his machines soas to most eificiently utilize the same. He then must deliver them tothe canner without incurring heavy labor, storage and transportationcosts, which costs will erase and perhaps at times exceed the savingseffected by the high production rate of his plant equipment. Once thecans arrive at the canner, they must be fed into the can-filling andclosing apparatus at such speed that the latter apparatus may be mostefliciently employed without allowing the labor charges to again erasethe advantages of high-speed operation.

Thus, it is an object of this invention to provide a process ofconveying cans from can-making apparatus to the canner in a moreefficient manner than has heretofore been known.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a process wherebycans may be automatically fed from a transport means into can-fillingand closing apparatus so rapidly as to enable the latter apparatus tooperate at its normal rated speed.

It is another object of this invention to provide a process of conveyingcans utilizing a novel can magazine into which cans may be substantiallyautomatically loaded and from which cans may be substantallyautomatically unloaded.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a novel canmagazine, which is divided into a plurality of longitudinal cellsholding substantially more cans than an equivalent volume willaccommodate when utilized for storing packaged can members contained inre-shipping cartons.

It is a still further object of this invention toprovide a can magazinedivided into a plurality of longitudinal cells defined by parallel Wallmembers which may have the interval therebetween regulated toaccommodate cans of varying length.

It is another object of this invention to provide a novel can magazinewhich is constructed so as to prevent damaging impact to the individualcans in the course of loading and unloading said magazine.

The above and other objects of this invention will become more apparentupon proceeding with the following detailed description of one practicalembodiment of the invention, when read in the light of the accompanyingdrawings and appended claims.

The following description will outline the general procedure followed inconveying cans from the can-manufacturing apparatus to the can-fillingapparatus in the course of practicing the process herein disclosed.

A high speed can-manufacturing machine is allowed to discharge itsnormal output onto a moving conveyor. The latter conveyor communicateswith an automatic feeding device having a plurality of discharge chutes.Each of the chutes terminates over one of a plurality of open toplongitudinal cells which define a unitary magazine structure. Each ofthe cells has an opening disposed at one end limit thereof, the size ofwhich is governed by a reciprocally movable gate member, The feedingdevice proceeds to fill all of the magazine cells. The latter magazineis detachably mountable on a truck trailer bed and, upon being filled,is mounted on such a bed and co11- veyed to a canner. Upon reaching thecanner destination the magazine may be removed from the trailer bed bymeans of power rollers onto a tilting crib member which may also employpower rollers to assist magazine movement.

After locking the magazine to the crib by suitable locking means, thesame may be tilted to an appropriate angle, with the gated end portionof the magazine disposed in a lower-most position. Selected cell gatesare opened, allowing cans contained in the corresponding cells to moveby gravity into a conventional powered can line merger or blending boot.In this latter manner, all of the magazine cells are emptied. The latterboot is connected to a conventional oifbearing conveyor whichautomatically conveys the cans to the filling machines.

The empty can magazine is returned to horizontal position, removed fromthe tilting crib, reassembled to a truck trailer bed, and returned tothe can manufacturer, where at it may again be refilled on a loadingdock after removal from the truck bed as before described.

The can magazine employed in the above-described system is of noveldesign and constitutes an important part in the over-all efiiciency ofthe provided system. The

magazine enables larger numbers of cans to be hauled than had heretoforebeen possible because of the novel arrangement of the longitudinal cellscontained therein. In addition, the magazine is so constructed that thewidth of the magazine cells is adjustable to conform with the length ofdifferent size cans. Each magazine 'cell possesses bafile members whichprevent damage being inflicted on the cans in the course of loading.Also, the baffie members act as a reinforcement maintaining the cellwalls in desired spaced relationship.

For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference shouldnow be made to the drawings, wherein FIGURE 1 is a side elevational viewof a bulk can magazine embodying one form of the invention andillustrating the magazine when locked on a fiat bed trailer and alsowhen locked on a tilting cribmember;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a can body as it emerges from acan-manufacturing machine;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a roller bed utilized for supporting the canmagazine of FIG. 1 in the course of carrying out the provided process orsystem;

FIG. 4 is aside elevational view partly in section of the bulk canmagazine of FIG. 1 on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an end elevational view of the bulk can magazine of FIG. 4 asviewed in the direction of the arrows 6-6 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a gate member utilized with the bulk canmagazine;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the bulk can magazine of FIG. 4;

FIG. 9, 10, 11 and 12 are sectional views taken on lines 99, 1010, 1111and 12-12, respectively, of FIG. 4 and illustrated on a scale enlargedthereover;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary, enlarged detailed view of a joint constructionutilized in forming the longitudinal cell wall portions of the bulk canmagazine;

FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken on line 1414 of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a side elevational view of mechanism used 'in one process forloading the bulk can mechanism pro- :lines 17-17 of FIG. 15 andillustrated on a scale enlarged thereover;

FIG. 18 is a view similar to FIG. 15 illustrating the use ofpower-driven conveyors on the illustrated docks and flat bed trailer;

FIG. 19 is a fragmentary side elevational view partly in section of oneof the power-driven dock conveyors of FIG. 18 illustrated on a scaleenlarged over that of FIG. 18; 5

FIG. 20 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 2020 of FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 is a fragmentary top plan view of a powerdriven roller bedconveyor illustrated in FIG. 18;

FIG. 22 is a sectional view taken on line 22-22 of FIG. 21 andillustrated on a scale enlarged thereover; and

FIG. 23 is a sectional view taken on line 2323 of FIG. 21 andillustrated on a scale enlarged thereover.

Process Operation Outline As has above been explained, it is one of thepurposes of this invention to provide a process whereby cans emergingfrom high-speed can-fabricating apparatus may be transported therefromin a ready and facile manner to can-filling and closing apparatus. Thehigh speed and efiiciency of modern apparatus employed in the canningindustry cannot be utilized to its full extent unless additionalapparatus also of an automatic nature is utilized for purposes ofpacking cans in a transport magazine and automatically feeding thelatter cans from the transport magazine at the canner to the filling andclosing apparatus.

The drawings disclose the various steps employed in the provided processplus detailed views of the bulk can magazine utilized in the practice ofthe process. In FIG. 15 a rotary can distributor 10 known in the art isillustrated in the process of receiving cans 70, one of which isillustrated in FIG. 2, from a can-making apparatus (not illustrated) bymeans of a conveyor 12. The cans are then discharged from thedistributor 10 by means of a flexible chute portion 14 into a pluralityof longitudinal cells 16 of a bulk can magazine 29. Althoughschematically illustrated the can distributor 10 may be mounted on acarriage which is disposed above the cells on tracks and adapted toautomatically travel thereover in the course of discharging cans. Thechute 14- may also be telescopic in nature and have its end limitmounted on a movable carriage 15 illustrated in FIGS. 15 and 17. Thecells 16 of the latter magazine may be more clearly seen in FIGS. 5 and17 It should be noted that the number of chutes 14 emerging from thedistributor 10 may equal the number of cells 16. The structural detailsof the magazine 20 will hereinafter be described in greater detail.

After the magazine 20 has been loaded by means of the distributor 10, itmay be moved with the assistance 'of roller members 22 over dockportions 23 and 24, after which it may engage the adjacent rollers 22 ofroller bed '26 disposed on the flat bed trailer 28 of FIG. 15. The dockportion 24- enables a loaded magazine to be available for attachment toa flat bed trailer while one magazine is being made ready for transportand another is being loaded. The bulk can magazine 20 is now ready fortransporting to a canning factory wherein the latter cans contained inthe bulk can magazine will be automatically fed into can-filling andclosing apparatus (not shown).

FIG. 18 comprises a figure illustrating a system which is somewhatsimilar to that of FIG. 15 with the exception that the docks 25' thereinillustrated utilize power driven conveyor portions 27. The latterportions com prise elongate slats aflixed to a link chain 29 moreclearly seen in FIG. 19 which is driven by means of a powerdrivensprocket wheel 30 also illustrated in FIG. 19.

The sectional view of FIG. 20 illustrates in greater detail the outsideframe channels 32 and inner I beams 34 which supportingly engage thelinks of the driven chain 29 as they move the slat portions 27 of thepower driven conveyor. The rotary can distributor 1i) illustrated inFIG. 18 and the appurtenant conveyor sections 13 and 14 are preciselythe same as those illustrated in FIG. 16.

It is thus seen from the above described FIGS. 15 and 18 that the outputof a high-speed can-making machine (not illustrated) may be readilyremoved by means of conveyor belts utilizing twist portions (such asportion 13 illustrated in FIG. 15) to a rotary distributor 10 which isparticularly adapted to handle cans of a predetermined size. Thedistributor in turn discharges the flow 'of cans into the cells of abulk can magazine 20 illustrated in FIGS. 15' and =18.

The filled magazine may be either pushed from a dock over freely rollingroller members in a manner employed in conjunction with the apparatusillustrated in FIG. 16, or else it may be moved by means of power drivenroller conveyors in the manner illustrated in FIG. 18. It will be notedfrom the latter figure that the flat bed 28 of the illustrated trailermember may have mounted thereon a conveyor bed :19 which may also employpower-driven rollers 36, which are interconnected by means of linkchains 37 (see FIG. 21) which engage sprocket wheels 39 of the rollers36. The power-driven rollers 36 comprise the magazine-engaging means ofthe conveyor beds 19, one of which is clearly illustrated in FIGS. 21through It will be noted from FIG. 21 that the latter bed compriseschannel frame portions 21 on which the powerdriven rollers 36 aremounted by means of bearings 23. The frame channels 21 defining opposedsides of the bed 19 are intermittently braced by means of the cross ties25, and the opposed end portions of the bed 19 are further reinforced bymeans of the diagonal frame brace portions 27. The power conveyorportions of the docks 25 of FIG. 18 and the flat bed trailer 28 may beprovided with limit switches (not shown) which automatically stop theroller movement after the bulk can magazine has reached a predeterminedposition either on the dock or on the trailer bed.

Unloading of the Bulk Can Magazine After the bulk can magazine 28 hasbeen locked to the fiat bed trailer of the vehicle 35 in either of themanners described in FIG. or 118, the latter vehicle proceeds to itspoint of destination which is usually a canning factory. As has beenmentioned above, a canning factory is preferably located in the centerof a number of surrounding can-manufacturing plants. Thus a ready supplyof cans is always assured even on short notice.

Upon arriving at the canner or a canning factory, vehicle 35 pulling themagazine and trailer 28 approaches a tilting crib member 38 in themanner illustrated in FIG. 1. The latter crib may employ the freelyrotatable roller members 40, more clearly shown in FIG. 3, or may employpower-driven roller members similar to those used on the loading docksand the bed 19 of H6. 21.

After the driver of the vehicle has aligned his trailer with themagazine crib, identical motor means (not shown) driving the trailerflat bed rollers and the crib rollers may be energized whereby theloaded can magazine will be conveyed from the fiat bed trailer to thetilting crib 38; a limit switch mounted at one end of the crib willautomatically stop the magazine when it is completely and properlypositioned thereon. The driver of the trailer truck may then secure anempty magazine to the now empty trailer bed for return to thecan-manufacturing plant.

The loaded bulk can magazine after being locked in place as illustratedin dotted lines in FIG. 1 is tilted into the elevated full-line positionof FIG. 1 by means of tilting apparatus 42. The latter apparatus whichis given by way of illustration only is seen to comprise a plurality ofmechanical linkages; a hydraulic piston means or other equivalent powermeans, however, will function to equal advantage for purposes of tiltingthe overlying crib and attached can magazine 29.

In the latter tilted position, gate members 54 which are disposed at oneend, the lowermost end, of the magazine 2i) and which are used toregulate the discharge of cans from each cell disposed in the magazineare then opened. The cans in certain cells are then allowed to move bygravity from the bulk can magazines into a can-blending boot 46, moreclearly seen in FIG. 1, and, from the latter boot, to a can line merger48. Both the blending boot and can line merger are well known in the artand are schematically illustrated. The moving cans then move onto anoil-bearing conveyor 5t which automatically moves the cans dischargingfrom the tilted can magazine to a can-filling and closing apparatus (notshown).

It is thus seen from the latter description that the can magazine 20upon arriving at the canning plant may be automatically move from thetrailer bed of the transporting vehicle 35, placed upon a tilting cribmember 38, after which the cans will discharge by gravity from selectedcells 16 of the can magazine, into a blending boot from which they willbe automatically conveyed to a high-speed filling and closing apparatus.

The gates 54 for the cells 16 disposed in the can magazine 20 are moreclearly seen in FIGS. 6 and 7. It will be noted from these latterfigures that each gate 54, as here shown, comprises an elongated slottedstrip which engages two bolt members 56 having enlarged head portions orwasher portions whereby the latter gates may be retained to thesupporting magazine structure in the course of moving and formingopenings in each cell whereby cans contained therein may be discharged.

Detailed Description of the Bulk Can Magazine As has been previouslymentioned, the bulk can magazine 243 comprises a container structurehaving a plurality of longitudinal cells 16. The individual cells aredefined by a plurality of wall members 60 which are maintained in spacedrelationship by interposed vertical spacer members 62, more clearly seenin FIG. 10. It will be noted from FIG. 4, however, that the verticalspacers 62 terminate a substantial distance above floor portion 64 ofthe magazine. The gap thus provided enables all of the cans in a singlecell 16 to flow along the floor of the magazine, through the end opening66 illustrated in FIG. 4 which is regulated by the previously discussedgate member 54, one of which is illustrated in FIG. 7.

An additional means maintaining the wall portions 66 of each magazinecell in a rigid condition comprises baflle members 68, more clearly seenin FIG. 4 and illustrated in transverse section in FIG. 11. It will benoted from the latter sectional View that the surface of the bafilemembers 63 which engage a can member such as a can member 7-9illustrated in perspective in FIG. 2 is routed or grooved at 72 (see 1G.11) whereby less surface r'ction w ll be exerted between the can and thebathe.

in addition, the opposed end circumferential portions of differingdiameters (see dotted line representation of the can in FIG. 11) of eachcan will not engage a baffle surface portion, thereby eliminating thepossibility of jamming of the can members in the cells.

The most obvious function of the baffle members 63 is, of course, toprevent the direct fall of a can member from the chute 14 of the rotarycan distributor 10 to the floor 64 of the can magazine. It is seen thata can discharged from the chute 14 will first rotatably engage thegrooved surface of the upper angularly disposed bafile member afterwhich it will drop and engage the second angularly disposed bafilemember 68 preliminarily to dropping to the fioor 64 of the magazine.This latter engagement between the can and baffles in the normal courseof magazine loading is apparent from an inspection of FIG. 4. Throughbolts 84 illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11 traverse the entire width of thecell 259 passing through walls 69, vertical spacers 62 and baffles 68 inthe course of effecting a stable over-all cell construction.

It will be noted from FIG. 9 that end wall 30 of the bulk can magazine29 comprises a plurality of discrete wall lengths 82 which are groovedat their opposed lateral edge portions of their inwardly disposedsurface so as to avoid contact with the enlarged end portions of thecans '76 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 9. it will also be noted fromthis latter figure that the wall sections 82, interposed betweenmagazine walls 6 and the sectional floor 64 of the provided magazine areall maintained in assembled relationship by means of through bolts 34,in cooperation with a nut member not shown. The sectional nature of themagazine floor 64 is clearly seen in H6. 12, which illustrates floorsections 86 which are routed at opposed lateral portions similarly tothe manner in which the end Wall portions 82 are routed. Floor sections86 are also maintained in assembled relationship with the magazine walls16 by means of the through bolts 84.

This latter sectional nature of the magazine floor and walls imparts tothe latter magazine an advantage assist ing its adaptability to cans ofvarying size in the normal course of operation. By varying the width ofthe baffle members 68, the bottom floor sections 86, the vertical wallsections 82 and the gate members 54-, bulk can magazines having cells ofvarying width to accommodate cans of varying length may be readilyfabricated. Such modiportion 88 illustrated in FIG. 6.

Magazine Cell Walls An additional structural feature of the bulk canmagazine coniprises'the manner in which the vertical celldefining walls6% engage each other at the point of overlap. It is apparent that thecell walls 60 cannot con veniently be composed of integral members whichrun the entire length of the magazine because of the length of thelatter member. Consequentl a plurality of sections are utilized todefine a unitary wall member which runs the entire length of themagazine.

FIGS. 13 and 14 are enlarged detailed views illustrating the manner inwhich wall section 60a disposed away from the direction of can travel inthe course of can discharge has its end portion cut into a plurality ofsquare portions 99. The square portions 96 are bent or deformed inopposite lateral directions whereby they define a channel adapted toengage a straight edge portion of a wall section 60b disposed in thedirection of can travel in the course of can discharge from themagazine.

Referring to FIG. 14, it will become apparent that the rotatably movingcans of the magazine cells are not exposed to a projecting cell walledge surface on which a can end may become caught or wedged in a cellspace because of the dovetailing effect created by the wall squares 90of section 66a disposed over the straight edge portion of adjacent wallportion 60b. In the absence of a sharp projecting wall edge on which tocatch, a smooth continuous discharge of the can members from each of themagazine cells is assured in the normal course of the unloadingoperation.

Magazine Locking Means The projecting apertured lug portions 94illustrated in FIG. *8 comprise one means whereby a locking means suchas pin member 96 illustrated in FIG. 4 may traverse the same and securethe magazine 20 either to the tilting crib member in the course of canunloading or to the fiat bed of a trailer in the course of beingtransported.

The latter description of the bulk can magazine aids in understandingthe manner in which the latter magazine may be utilized in the course ofadding to the efficiency of can removal from a can-making machine andcan feeding to a can-filling and closing apparatus.

It is believed apparent from the above description that the advantageswhich the bulk can magazine provides in the course of conveying cansfrom the can-manufacturing apparatus to the can-filling and closingapparatus have been made apparent. The volume of cans which may be heldby a bulk can magazine 20 exceeds by approximately 80 percent the numberof cans which a trailer of equal size would be able to hold if the canswere merely packed in cartons. In addition, the manual labor involved inremoving cans from a conveyor in communication with a can-makingapparatus has been dispensed with by allowing the cans to move directlyfrom the can-making apparatus to a rotary can distributor and fromthence by means of flexible chutes 14 into the various longitudinalcells of the can magazine 20. This latter portion of the provided systemis illustrated in FIGS. 15 and 18.

It will be noted from the latter two figures that the end limits of thechutes 14 may be mounted on movable carriage portions 15 which mayautomatically move over the longitudinal cells 16 of each magazine 20and reversibly move in the opposite direction by means of limit switchesnot shown which may be disposed overthe opposed end limits of the lattercells. It is, of course, obvious that manual labor may be substitutedfor certain portions of the illustrated system. For instance, an

, attendant along a catwalk disposed atop the magazine rotarydistributor into the cell 16.

favorable weather is the exception. .mates tarpaulins may be used tocover the open tops of Following the loading operation, the magazines2%) are moved onto the flat beds of the vehicles 35 and conveyed to thecanning plant whereat the magazines 26 may be removed by means of apower conveyor disposed on the truck trailer bed and a series of poweredconveyor rollers disposed on a tilting crib member. The magazine islocked to the crib and tilted in the manner illustrated in FIG. 1; afterwhich the gate members 54 regulating the openings 65 in each cell endportion, see FIG. 4, may be raised, allowing the cans to enter ablending boot from which they will automatically move to a conveyor belt50.

It should be noted from FIG. 3 that, although two blending boots 46 areillustrated as being in operation, at any one time, a larger number, orone blending boot, may be employed at any one instant. The procedure tobe followed when two boots are to be utilized is apparent from FIG. 3.The two boots are spaced a distance apart preferably equal to half thenumber of cells. The gates of the two cells with which the boots are inalignment are opened, and can discharge takes place until the cells areempty. The two boots' are then moved laterally to the nextadjacent'cells and a similar discharge procedure is followed until allof the cells have been emptied.

Thus it is seen that cans may be substantially automatically conveyedfrom a bulk can magazine to can-filling and closing apparatus. Theprocess herein disclosed enables the cans to be conveyed throughoutWithout the danger of damage occurring to any of the cans.

Various closure members for the open top of the provided magazine may beutilized. However, such closures are usually not necessary especially inclimates where un- In these latter clithe cells whenever rain or othertype of unfavorable weather threatens.

It is believed apparent that modifications may be effected in theillustrated process and apparatus which will still remain within theambit of this invention and within the scope of the claims.

We claim:

' 1. The process of transporting cylindrical cans from acan-manufacturing plant to a can-using plant comprising providing aportable, elongated, open-top magazine divided into a plurality oflaterally spaced, substantially vertically disposed, open-top cellshaving a width slightly greater than the length of such cans to betransported as measured along the can axis of rotation and havingcan-supporting means at the bottom thereof, discharging cans as theycome from a can-fabricating machine into cells through the open topsthereof so that the discharged cans form a regular, close-packedarrangement in said cells with the length of said cans as measured alongthe can axis of rotation disposed substantially transversely to thewalls of said cells until the cells are filled, transporting the filled,portable magazine to a canning plant, tilting the magazine so that oneend thereof is elevated to dispose the can-supporting means at thebottom at an inclination, and discharging cans from said cells throughthe lower end of the magazine onto means conveying the cans to fillingapparatus.

2. The process of transporting cylindrical cans from a can-manufacturingplant to a can-using plant comprising providing a portable, elongated,open-top magazine divided into a plurality of laterally spaced,substantially vertically disposed, open-top cells having a widthslightly greater than the length of such 'cans tobe transported asmeasured along the can axis of rotation and having cansupporting meansat the bottom thereof, discharging cans into said cells through the opentops thereof so that the discharged cans form a regular, close-packedarrangement in said cells with the length of said cans as measured alongthe can axis of rotation disposed substantially trans versely to thewalls of said cells until the cells are filled, transporting the filled,portable magazine to a canning plant, tilting the magazine so that oneend thereof is elevated to dispose the can-supporting means at thebottom at an inclination, and discharging cans by gravity from saidcells through the lower end of the magazine onto means for conveying thecans to filling apparatus.

3. The process of transporting cylindrical cans from a can-manufacturingplant to a can-using plant comprising providing a portable, elongated,open-top magazine divided into a plurality of laterally spaced,substantially vertically disposed, openatop cells having a widthslightly greater than the length of such cans to be transported asmeasured along the can axis of rotation and having cansupporting meansat the bottom thereof, discharging cans as they come from acan-fabricating machine into said cells through the open tops thereof sothat the discharged cans form a regular, close-packed arrangement insaid cells with the length of said cans as measured along the can axisof rotation disposed substantially transversely to the walls of saidcells until the cells are filled, securing said portable magazine to avehicle chassis, trransporting the filled, portable magazine to acanning plant, removing said portable magazine from said chassis andsecuring the same to a tilting means, tilting the magazine so that oneend thereof is elevated to disposed the cansupporting means at thebottom at an inclination, and discharging cans from said cells throughthe lower end of the magazine onto means for conveying the cans tofilling apparatus.

4. In a method for delivering cylindrical cans or similar receptaclesfrom a fabricating machine to a filling machine for said earns, thesteps comprising depositing said cans from said fabricating machine ontoa conveyor means, conveying said cans to a dispensing means, dispensingsaid cans into a multicelled magazine means having a plurality ofopen-top longitudinal cells each of which has a gated discharge openingat one end limit thereof so such cans assume a regular, close-packedrelation with surrounding cans in both the vertical and horizontalplanes with the can axis of rotation arranged substantially parallel tosaid gated openings, conveying said latter magazine means to atransport-unloading means, tilting said magazine means, discharging saidcans from said transport means to a conveyor means, and conveying saidcans from said transportunloading means to said filling machine.

5. In a method for delivering cylindrical cans or similar objects from afabricating machine to a can-processing machine, the steps comprisingdischarging such cans to be delivered from the fabricating machine to aconveyor means, conveying said cans to a dispensing means, dispensingsaid cans into a multicelled, detachable magazine means having dischargegates for each of said cells, each of said cells having an open top;said cans being delivered being discharged into said magazine cells insuch a manner so as to assume a regular, close-packed arrangement withthe length of said cans as measured along the can axis of rotationdisposed substantially transversely to the Walls of said cells,conveying said latter means to a tiltable dock means, securing saiddetachable magazine means to said tiltable dock means, tilting saidmagazine means until the discharge gates thereof are in a lowermostposition, and opening selected gates whereby the cans in predeterminedcells of said magazine are allowed to discharge therefrom by gravity,rotatably discharging said close-packed cans into a blending boot meansin communication with a conveyor means and conveying said dischargedcans to can-processing apparatus.

6. In a method for conveying cylindrical cans from a can-fabricatingapparatus to a can-filling apparatus, the steps comprising automaticallyloading the can output of a can-fabricating machine into a portablemagazine comprising a plurality of discrete, gated, substantiallyvertical, open-top cells having a width slightly greater than the lengthof such cans to be conveyed until full, said cans being discharged intosuch magazine so as to assume a regular, close-packed arrangement withthe length thereof as measured along the can axis of rotation arrangedsubstantially transversely to the walls of said cells, securing thelatter magazine to a vehicle means and conveying the same to thecan-processing destination, detaching the loaded magazine from thevehicle and securing the same to a tiltable dock means, tilting thesecured magazine until the magazine cell gates are in a lowermostposition, opening predetermined cell gates whereby the cans disposed inthe cells are allowed to discharge by gravity into a blending bootmeans, and automatically conveying such discharged cans from saidblending boot means to a canfilling apparatus.

7. In a method for conveying ceans, the steps comprising automaticallyloading the cans into a portable magazine, comprising a plurality ofdiscrete substantially vertical, open-top cells, each of said cellshaving a width slightly greater than the length of such cans to beconveyed, each of said cells being provided with at least one closableopening for the discharge of the cans, said opening being located at alower portion of at least one end of the cells, all of the cans in eachof said vertical cells being dischargeable through said opening, saidcans being discharged into such magazine as to assume a regularclosepacked arrangement with the length thereof as measured along thecan axis of rotation arranged substantially transversely to the walls ofsaid cells, placing the magazine on a transporting means and conveyingthe same to a can-processing destination, moving the cells in suchdirection as to result in a lowering of at least one of the dischargeopenings of the cells relative to parts inwardly thereof and opening theclosable openings disposed in the lowered position whereby said cans maybe discharged.

8. In a method for conveying cans, the steps comprising dispensing cansinto a portable magazine comprising a plurality of discrete, gated, opentop substantially vertical cells having a width slightly greater thanthe length of such cans to be conveyed, said cans being discharged intosuch magazine so as to assume a regular, close-packed arrangement withthe length thereof as measured along the can axis of rotation arrangedsubstantially transversely to the walls of such cells, conveying suchmagazine to a predetermined destination, tilting the magazine until themagazine cell gates are in a lowermost position, and openingpredetermined cell gates whereby the cans disposed in the cells areallowed to discharge by gravity.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS699,690 Leetham May 13, 1902 1,196,700 King Aug. 29, 1916 1,383,318McCormick July 5, 1921 1,409,053 McDonald Mar. 7, 1922 1,588,156Anderson June 8, 1926 1,694,897 Washburn Dec. 11, 1928 1,857,653Meyercord et al. May 10, 1932 2,136,068 Allen Nov. 8, 1938 2,146,533Erickson Feb. 7, 1939 2,246,728 Gordon June 24, 1941 2,304,455 GuerardDec. 8, 1942 2,382,191 Weichselbaum Aug. 14, 1945 2,457,841 Smith et al.Jan. 4, 1949 2,556,188 Jakob June 12, 1951 2,712,390 Scholtz July 5,1955 2,727,641 Tomkins Dec. 20, 1955 2,741,379 Stryker Apr. 10, 19562,788,136 Hebert et al Apr. 9, 1957 2,815,874 Kowal Dec. 10, 19572,843,278 Queflander July 15, 1958 2,928,522 Anderson Mar. 15, 1960OTHER REFERENCES Publication, Flow, September 1956, pp. 114, 115. (Copyin Div. 4.)

1. THE PROCESS OF TRANSPORTING CYLINDRICAL CANS FROM A CAN-MANUFACTURINGPLANT TO A CAN-USING PLANT COMPRISING PROVIDING A PORTABLE, ELONGATED,OPEN-TOP MAGAZINE DIVIDED INTO A PLURALITY OF LATERALLY SPACED,SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICALLY DISPOSED, OPEN-TOP CELLS HAVING A WIDTHSLIGHTLY GREATER THAN THE LENGTH OF SUCH CANS TO BE TRANSPORTED ASMEASURED ALONG THE CAN AXIS OF ROTATION AND HAVING CAN-SUPPORTING MEANSAT THE BOTTOM THEREOF, DISCHARGING CANS AS THEY COME FROM ACAN-FABRICATING MACHINE INTO CELLS THROUGH THE OPEN TOPS THEREOF SO THATTHE DISCHARGED CANS FORM A REGULAR, CLOSE-PACKED ARRANGEMENT IN SAIDCELLS WITH THE LENGTH OF SAID CANS AS MEASURED ALONG THE CAN AXIS OFROTATION DISPOSED SUBSTANTIALLY TRANSVERSELY TO THE WALLS OF SAID CELLSUNTIL THE CELLS ARE FILLED, TRANSPORTING THE FILLED, PORTABLE MAGAZINETO A CANNING PLANT, TILTING THE MAGAZINE SO THAT ONE END THEREOF ISELEVATED TO DISPOSE THE CAN-SUPPORTING MEANS AT THE BOTTOM AT ANINCLINATION, AND DISCHARGING CANS FROM SAID CELLS THROUGH THE LOWER ENDOF THE MAGAZINE ONTO MEANS CONVEYING THE CANS TO FILLING APPARATUS.